Number-plate



W. H. HETZEL.

NUMBER PLATE.

kPPMCATlON FILED NOV. 5| 1918.

1,323,694. Patented n60. 2,1919.

V: N TOR ITTORNEY iii) "WILLIAM H. HETZEL, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

N UMBER-PLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

Application filed November 5, 1918. Serial No. 261,202.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. Hn'rznL, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Numberl lates. of which the following, taken in connection with the acconilpanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improve-- ments in number plates adapted to be attached in a conspicuous place to buildings to indicate the street number of the prone iscs upon which the building is located and involves the use of a rectangular one-piece sheet metal frame and one or more separate sheet metal figures or numerals mounted thereon so as to be clearly visible across the opening therein.

The main object is to provide a dcviceof this character which may be made and sold at a sufficiently low cost to enable it to be standardized for general use.

Another object is to enable any one of a series of the sheet in l figures or numbers to be easily and quick placed in its proper position upon the frame or removed there from without disturbing either of the other figures or numbers.

A further object is to assure the synr metrical spacing of the several figures or numbers in the frame Without the use of extra spacing nienilzers so that when assembled, the numbers will be in uniformly spaced relation With their front faces in substantially the same vertical plane as that of the front face of the frame.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the device will be brought out in the following description.

in the drawings Figure 'l' is a perspective view of a number plate embodying the Various features of my invention.

Fig. -2 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 22, Fig. l-.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View from the rear of one of the detached figures or numhers showing its attaching members in position for application to the frame.

As illustrated this number plate comprises a substantially rectangular frame A and a plurality of, in this instance three, separate figures or numerals -a having individuab means of attachment to the frame for holding them in uniformly spaced relation across the opening in said frame.

The frame A is preferably made from a single piece of sheet metal and is composed of parallel lower and upper horizontal rails 1 and --2 and upright parallel end rails 3 and lunited to the corresponding ends of the horizontal rails by rounding corners -5-, the end rails and also the top and bottom rails being arranged in spaced relation to form an intervening ubstantially rectangular and horizontally elongated opening 6.

The opposite side and end rails including the rounding corners of the frame are of substantially the same concavo convex sectional form throughout their lengths and are arranged with their convex sides to the front so that the rear concave side forms a marginal groove gextending the entire length and width of the frame to be utilized for a purpose presently described.

The lower and upper rails -1 and -2- are provided with a series of, in this instance, three sets of slots -a. one set for each figure, those of the several sets being arranged in uniformly spaced relation lengthwise of the frame, the space between the end slots and inner edges of the end rails being approximately equal to one half the space between the slots of the several sets whereby the spacings of the figures relatively to each other and to the end rails will be approximately equal.

The figures or numbers -a are preferably standardized as to vertical height and transverse Width, the height being substantially equal to the corresponding height of the opening 6- While the Width is such as to permit the use of a plurality of the figures side by side in uniformly spaced relation relatively to each other and to the end rails 3- and lwhereby each figure stands out clearly across the open space in the frame with a clear space practically surrounding it which materially increases its v isibility both in daylight and dark.

Each figure or numeral is made of thin she t metal stamped or pressed in such a manner as to form rearwardly projecting ribs --7- extending along and around the entire marginal edge thereof for reinforcing purposes and also to give the front faces of the figure a more or less raised appearance.

The central portions of the extreme lower and upper rearwardly projecting ribs or flanges -7 of each figure are provided with relatively narrow integral tongues -8 capable of being easily bent.

The intermediate portions of these tongues 8- are offset forwardly or outwardly to form shoulders or seats --9---- adapted to rest against the inner front corners of the lower and upper rails to properly center the figures between said rails and also to assist the tongues -8- in removing the figures in the frame a ainst relative movement there-- on particu arly when 1 he tongues are clenched or bent against the backs of the rails within the grooves r and at the same time permitting the figures to he readil removed by simply rebencling the free ends of the tonmies W3 at substantially right angles to idle plane of the main body thereof as shown in Fig. 3, the function of the HiEUHl lUIFJ being learly illns traled in Fig. --Q-.

In placing the sheet metal numerals in operative position within the Frame the tongues --8 of each numeral are registered with and passed through their corre sponding slots a'- and bent or clenched against the backs of their respective rails within the lengthwise grooves -g thereof, to hold the numerals in fixed relation to the "frame.

This manner of clenching the tongues against the backs of the rails not only conceals the major portions thereof from view but also enables the back of the frame to be fastened flatwise and firmly against the ortion of the building to which it is app ied and prevents malicious removal of the nu morals when the frame with the numerals thereon are seemed in place.

If, however, it should be desired at any time to rename any one of the numerals ii would be neeessary to remove the Frame from the building, unless otherwise sus pended as by hooks or hinges, whereupon the tongues may be reboot to their normal position shown in Fig. 3 to permit the numeral to be \Vli'lNiFflWfl and substituted by another one if necessary.

The frame may be fastened to the build' ing by nails, serews, screw-eyes or serewhooks, any of which may be passed tl'irougl'i apertures as --Q-- in the upper rails as shown in Fig "-i but it is evident that other Fastening derives may be used through the sam apertur s ii d sired.

What i claim is:

nuin' wr jiliitt comprising a substan l ziliy reviHIhLIHlnl frame of sheet metal hav ing lower and upper rails provided with Ii'O(H(H in "heir barks and slots leading from said grooves through the front sides of the rails, separate sheet metal numerals extending arross the opening in the fran'ie and having their lower and upper ends provided with bendable tongues inserted through slots and clenched against the baelou of the rails within the grooves, the intermediate portions of the said tongues being offset forwardly to form shoulders for engaging the inner front corners of the rails.

u Witness whereot l have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of November, 1918. \VILLIAM H. HETZEL. \Vitnesses H. E. CHASE, E'rmn, M. Vihrmnuus. 

